Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Week 12, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Shiloh Christian (10-1)
2. Warren (9-1)
3. Stuttgart (10-1)
4. Joe T. Robinson (10-1)
5. Ozark (8-2)
6. Prairie Grove (9-2)
7. Crossett (8-3)
8. Arkadelphia (8-3)
9. Ashdown (9-2)
10. Rivercrest (8-2)
11. Pocahontas (9-2)
12. Southside (9-2)
13. Lamar (9-2)
14. Malvern (6-5)
15. Trumann (8-3)
16. Elkins (8-2)
17. Lonoke (8-3)
18. DeWitt (6-5)
19. Star City (7-4)
20. Dardanelle (6-5)
21. Fountain Lake (5-6)
22. Clinton (5-6)
23. Mena (5-6)
24. Gentry (7-4)|
25. Jonesboro Westside (6-5)
26. Cave City (6-5)
27. Mills (6-5)
28. Monticello (5-6)
29. Nashville (4-6)
30. Huntsville (5-6)
31. Pottsville (3-8)
32. H. Grove Haskell (2-8)
33. Bauxite (2-8)
34. Heber Springs (3-6)
35. Hamburg (2-8)
36. Dumas (2-7)
37. Blytheville (2-8)
38. Highland (2-8)
39. Waldron (2-7)
40. Berryville (2-6)
41. Green Forest (2-7)
42. Gravette (1-9)
43. Bald Knob (1-9)
44. CAC (2-8)
45. Gosnell (1-8)
46. Dover (0-10)
47. Helena (0-10)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 Crossett at No. 5 Ozark
Ozark clobbered Crossett 42-7 in the first round in 2017. Two years later both programs lost in the semifinals, and last fall both advanced to the quarterfinals.  Crossett's attack this fall revolves around senior quarterback Tyrique Jones. Jones has completed 97 of 164 passes for 1,787 yards and 21 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,093 yards and 15 TDs. Junior running back Tayshawn Paskel has 84 carries this fall for 628 yards and eight TDs, while versatile senior Jackson Moore has carried 58 times for 440 yards and four TDs and caught 40 passes for 674 yards and seven TDs. Senior track recruit and receiver Dwayne Ashford has 24 receptions for 619 yards and 10 TDs. Senior noseguard Dylan Coody (35 tackles) and senior linebacker Denzel Watkins (team-high 99 stops) are leaders on defense. “They are so talented and quick,” Ozark coach Jeremie Burns says. “Tyrique is unbelievable in the open field.”

Ozark counters with an offense that runs for 257 yards weekly. Junior quarterback Landon Wright paces the Hillbillies with 102 carries for 890 yards (8.7 yards per carry) and 15 TDs, while junior Eli Masingale has 86 totes for 934 yards and 14 TDs. Sophomore linebacker Kyle Archer paces the Hillbillies with 97 tackles, while senior Ryker Martin has 73 tackles.

Common opponents: Ozark beat Pottsville 35-14 Week 7 (led 7-0 at halftime), and Crossett pounded Pottsville 49-7 a week ago. Watch extended highlights of Crossett’s 15-13 loss to McGehee earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Crossett’s 40-34 loss to Warren earlier this year.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 12 of 14 games (86 percent). Hootens.com has predicted 267 of 304 games (88 percent) correctly this season.

WEEK 12 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
TOP OF THE BRACKET
Malvern at RIVERCREST (6): These teams haven't played since Rivercrest beat Malvern 40-15 in the first round of the 1983 playoffs. The Colts shared the 3-4A title this fall and earned a first-round bye after beating Blytheville 40-8 Week 10. Rivercrest passes on 55 percent of its plays this fall. Senior QB Mike Sharp completes 69 percent of his passes for 1,984 yards and 22 TDs with seven interceptions. Four receivers have at least 300 yards, including sophomore Michael Rainer (60 catches, 811 yards and 10 TDs) and senior Lath Latham (34 caches, 420 yards and three TDs). Sophomore Marcus Slayton paces the Colts with 68 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. Malvern starts 10 sophomores, including four linemen. Leopard sophomore Jalen Dupree ran 36 times for 289 yards and three TDs in last week's 28-20 win at DeWitt. Senior RB/QB Braylon Watson ran nine times for 92 yards and a TD, and he made eight tackles at outside linebacker. Dupree has 1,471 yards and 16 TDs this season, while Watson 812 yards and nine TDs. Watch extended highlights of Malvern’s 35-12 loss to Lake Hamilton earlier this year.
Ashdown at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (33): This is the second meeting between these programs, with Ashdown winning 49-22 in the 2005 quarterfinals. Ashdown beat Lonoke last week by 21 points, its first playoff victory since 2017 (Shiloh Christian has 12 playoff wins during that span). Ashdown junior Jayden Fricks ran 23 times for 126 yards and a TD at Lonoke, while junior RB/WR Jonathan McElroy scored three TDs and racked up 12 tackles at linebacker. Shiloh Christian led Cave City 6-0 in the second quarter last week before recovering a botched punt snap at the 1-yard line and getting a pick six moments later to go up 21-0. Junior QB Eli Wisdom completed nine of 15 passes for 193 yards and two TDs, and ran for 105 yards, including a 66-yard TD scamper. Shiloh Christian has been ranked No. 1 by Hootens.com since Week 8, 2020, when Ashdown beat previous No. 1 ranked Nashville. Watch extended highlights of Shiloh Christian’s 58-12 win over Green Forest earlier this year.
Crossett at OZARK (1): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
ARKADELPHIA (11) at Southside: Arkadelphia beat Southside 42-8 in the second round in 2017. The Badgers trailed Clinton 20-14 in the second quarter last week before cruising to a 56-26 decision. Senior RB Jaishon Davis ran 12 times for 152 yards and five TDs. Junior QB Donovan Whitten (13 of 20 for 179 yards and two TDs) hooked up with senior Braylon Bailey (five catches, 56 yards) and junior Tripp Campbell (four catches, 72 yards and two TDs) to give the Badgers breathing room. Southside's 28-24 triumph over Star City puts the Southerners in the second round for the first time since the 2017 loss to Arkadelphia and only the third time in school history. Southside QB Landen Haas ran 42 yards for the winning TD with 21 seconds left. Haas finished with 153 yards, while senior Jacob Dunne ran 18 times for 123 yards and two TDs. Junior Pierce Duncan paced the D with 10 tackles, while junior Jonathan Strother finished with 10 stops. Senior cornerback Justin Vannattan secured the victory over Star City with an interception as time expired. Watch extended highlights of Arkadelphia’s 55-47 loss to Greenbrier earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Arkadelphia’s 48-14 win over Fountain Lake earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Arkadelphia’s 56-32 loss to Joe T. Robinson earlier this year.

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET
Trumann at WARREN (20): Trumann coach Randy Phillips started his career in 2004 as a junior high assistant at Warren. Trumann junior QB Murphy Williams ran 13 times for 91 yards and completed 11 of 22 passes for 115 yards in last week's 27-14 win over Mena. Senior Dawson Shuburte hauled in three balls for 74 yards, and senior Rian King logged 17 carries for 71 yards and a pair of fourth quarter TDs. Warren hasn't played since hammering Hamburg 42-17 Week 9 (Helena forfeited Week 10 and the Lumberjacks had a first-round bye). Warren built a 35-3 halftime advantage at Hamburg, with senior Cedric Calbert running 14 times for 105 yards and two TDs. Senior Jecari Lee had four carries for 76 yards and caught three passes for 47 yards and a TD. Junior defensive end Landon Wolfe made eight tackles, including three sacks and six QB pressures. Watch extended highlights of Warren’s 47-27 win over Stuttgart earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Warren’s 40-34 win over Crossett earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Warren’s 35-0 loss to White Hall earlier this year.
Elkins at STUTTGART (21): These teams have never played. Elkins escaped Dardanelle by six points last week, behind sophomore RB Da'Shawn Chairs  212 yards and four TDs. Junior LB Landon Haney made nine tackles and two fumble recoveries, while DL Zanuel Martin collected eight tackles, including two sacks. Stuttgart stomped undermanned Monticello last week 42-7. Senior QB Tymir Coppins threw three TD passes, while senior RB Daniel Poole ran for a TD or caught a TD pass. Junior RB Cedric Hawkins has rushed for more than 1,200 yards this fall and “is the best running back we've played all year,” Elkins coach Zach Watson says. Senior end Lavontae Clark (10 tackles, three TFLs) and junior Kameron Harper form a fast tandem on the defensive front. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 47-27 loss to Warren earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 42-0 win over Heber Springs earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 35-14 win over Star City earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 43-14 win over Clinton earlier this year.
Pocahontas at JOE T. ROBINSON (31): These teams haven't met since Pocahontas beat Joe T. Robinson 24-14 in the first round of the 2014 playoffs. Pocahontas was tied with Fountain Lake 28-28 in the second half a week ago before pulling away 47-28. Senior QB Connor Baker ran 35 times for 243 yards and five TDs, and threw a TD pass. At linebacker, Baker made six tackles and intercepted one pass. Sophomore RB Reagan Womack had 18 carries for 128 yards, and at linebacker made six tackles and forced one fumble. Sophomore LB Zane Hibbard led the Redskins with 11 tackles. Joe T. Robinson senior Daryl Searcy ran 10 times for 93 yards in the first half of last week's 35-8 win over Mills. The Senators scored 28 points in the final 4:18 of the first half to go up 35-0. Robinson's suffocating D held Mills to 36 yards in the first half. Joe T. Robinson beat Fountain Lake 48-25 Week 4. Watch extended highlights of Joe T. Robinson's 56-32 win over Arkadelphia earlier this year.
Lamar at PRAIRIE GROVE (9): These teams have never met in the playoffs. Lamar advances to the second round for the first time as members of Class 4A after beating Gentry last week 21-20. Junior Damien Hendrix ran 16 times for 84 yards and a pair of TDs. Senior RB Tony Balmer caught a short pass from senior QB Landon Harrison and took it 83 yards for the winning TD with five minutes left. Senior LB Joe Dalton and junior Lee Harkreader each recorded six tackles. Prairie Grove beat Jonesboro Westside 28-10 last week to advance past the first round for the second straight season and eighth time in the past decade. The Tigers trailed 10-7 in the second quarter before long TD runs by senior Colin Faulk and junior Ethan Miller to take a 21-10 advantage early in the third quarter. Miller ran eight times for 182 yards, while senior LB and team leader John King racked up 17 stops.